Macao’s regular nucleic acid testing (NAT) drive for the city’s key group of workers has been updated by the city’s Health Bureau (SSM), with many of the NAT measures replaced by rapid antigen testing (RAT).
Workers at elderly homes, nurseries and prison facilities must now do one RAT or NAT every day, while most other people in Macao’s key group of workers can now choose to do one RAT or NAT every three days.
These include all casino and hotel workers, staff of establishments located inside a hotel, hotel workers who are likely to come in contact with quarantined persons, pilots and flight attendants commuting between mainland China and Macao, and workers who need to enter cabin of aircrafts/vessels arriving from Hong Kong, Taiwan and foreign countries.
Furthermore, staff members handling cargo from Hong Kong, Taiwan and foreign countries, or working with imported cold-chain food and drugs from foreign countries, as well as those handling non-disinfected international mail or packages are also required to do one RAT or NAT every three days.
Other workers that fall into this category include cross border drivers between mainland China and Macao, art performers who cannot wear masks when performing, and drivers of public transport as well as tourist, school and crew buses.
Trainers in singing, music and dance classes also must undergo one RAT or NAT every three days, according to SSM, who pointed out, however, border checkpoint staff members, berthed Hong Kong-Macao cargo vessel crew, inbound staff of Hong Kong-Macao coaches or other Hong Kong-Macao vehicles, as well as inbound flight and vessel attendants from Hong Kong, Taiwan and foreign countries are still required to do a daily NAT.
Some of the key groups of workers will be told of the necessary Covid-19 measures by their supervisors, including food delivery staff, hawker and shop workers, employees of food and beverage establishments outside hotels and casinos, security guards and cleaners not working for hotels or casinos, laundry workers, constructions workers, renovation workers, supermarket staff, shopping mall workers, as well as karaoke and bar workers.
Meanwhile, due to changes in Macao’s Covid-19 measures, 18 buildings which on Wednesday were still designated Yellow Code Zones have today been cleared off the list.
